Dan Haren was roughed up for five runs in five innings by the Cardinals.

JUPITER, Fla. — He could have come up with an excuse or tried to sugarcoat the situation by searching for some positives to come out of his ragged outing this afternoon.

Dan Haren didn't bother. He just told it like it was.

"Just one of those days, man," the Nationals right-hander sighed after allowing five runs in five innings with a fastball that never topped 89 mph. "I felt like I was throwing a weighted ball out there. It was just bad, all the way around."

Haren insisted he's not injured. He hopes he was simply dealing with the same "dead arm" issue that plagues many pitchers in mid-March, though "I don't even know what that is, I just didn't feel great."

The results weren't pretty: Haren allowed four runs during a first inning that included two towering homers clubbed by the Cardinals' Jon Jay and Matt Adams and first-pitch strikes to only one of theRead more »

I am really disappointed with team USA. I think at this point they should be hitting better than this. Apparently the major league clubs are dictating which pitchers can pitch on certain days. That explains a lot. Would like to have seen our boys shine a little more. So, is this what Rollins and Stanton are going to look like when we play their teams?

I enjoyed the WBC but will be happy to have our two lads back in Viera instead of on a plane to San Francisco. Doubt if I will watch the rest of it. I will be too busy trying to get everything in my room exactly like it was tonight as Maryland crushes Duke!! At least tomorrow I won't have to be clicking back and forth between baseball, Terps and G'town. DVR got quite a workout.

Doesn't matter ya know? That's the risk with Harren. He's a good pitcher who has lost significant velocity on his fastball the last 2-3 years. And it had a detrimental effect.That's why Rizzo likes insurance policies. He has a couple of those in the form of veterans in camp. And a couple of prospects in the minors. And then? There's Stammen and Dukes. Why worry.

I've said it before. Haren seems like a class guy and has had a great big league career. But the needle is on empty now. Rizzo has made great moves over the last couple years, but this is not one of them

PR leads by 4-0. Unbelievable! That opposing pitcher is locked in right now………..That was Nelson Figuora for God Sake…..come one face it….WBC is a joke and should not exist in this form.The USA team would have been better if it was made up of Single A players who spent the winter playing as a team in Caribbean leagues. This is no different than Olympic Basketball ball. The whole Dream Team idea is embarrassing and proves nothing.Oh and now the excuses come and they sure sound like Nats excuses from October. Torre and Johnson only pull out excuses when they lose. Until then, lack of focus, inexperience, short series, LUCK love that one…bad luck seems to be the top one lately….they don't exist until their players choke…then you here such BS them these guys.

And you NJ…And another example of Davey before a problem…..Johnson said. “I’m not concerned at all about that. I’m sure both of them are learning from guys that know a lot about pitching. I think it’s a great experience. Whatever work scheduled they’re on, I’m not the least bit worried.”…..Now when these two struggle in April of god for forbid get hurt…..that is NOT what Davey will say…..book it.

NJ…I know it is almost if not impossible for you to say anything negative about Davey and they guys you get access too but………..Dead Arm….come on….just another example of BS when things go wrong…next any accountability…that is what I do not understand…at least no accountability in the press and trust me that is what players care about these days.

Mac, I was thinking about Romero and Figeuroa. Amazing that we get beat by a couple of journeymen but that's baseball.I want to know when David Wright became the most important player in the universe. The idiot talking head (not the guys who actually played) made it sound like the only reason we lost is because Wright was not in the lineup. Last time I checked a game went 9 innings with multiple players. No one person has ever won or lost a game by himself and certainly not David Wright who is a fine player but not "captain america".On another topic – JayB has worked out all the kinks, allowed his tongue (or in this case fingers) to get stretched out and is ready for opening day. His endless rants on Davey will never end but he should save them for when the games count. JayB we get it, Davey is stubborn but when you continue to point that out who do think is more stubborn?? Hmmmmm. I honestly don't hope this happens but if we don't jump out to a fast start I see lots of posts by "you know who saying you know what" Scroll feature will be useful.

In the words of Buster Posey, " It's Spring Training you moron". I agree on all levels…..and that is why WBC is stupid the what the US plays it. Every other country gets it. They prepare and play all winter and some as a full team. That is how you compete….not because you have more talent. Clearly that does not matter in this format and during early spring training. USA got beat by teams and pitcher who would not even make Single A rosters.Buster is correct and that is why Nats players should not be on the roster. Potomac players….fine.

I also thought about how WBC can also be a stage for some of these players to earn a big league deal or at least a minor league invite.I am a fan of WBC and I hope it picks up more fans and more players are inclined to participate in this event to make it more fun.

Last season when Gio came to the team, he really loosened everyone up, Burnett also seemed gregarious. Haren's salty frankness may be yet another facet to this fascinating group of pitchers. Sports shrinks would have a field day. All different, all with their own style. McCatty makes it all work. I would love to have a conversation with him about these guys.